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Posted on: August 23, 2012

Kansas named top 10 ‘Pro-Business State’ by Pollina Corporate

Pollina Corporate Real Estate Inc. announced that Kansas has been named a top 10 “Pro-Business State” for 2012. The annual ranking is compiled by Pollina, a global real estate brokerage and consulting firm, and the American Economic Development Institute. The ranking is based on 32 factors controlled by state government, including taxes, human resources, education, right-to-work legislation, energy costs, infrastructure spending, workers compensation laws, economic incentive programs and state economic development efforts.

“It is nice to receive this recognition as one of the top states for business,” said Kansas Commerce Secretary Pat George. “We have worked diligently over the past 18 months to create an environment that will encourage business expansion and job growth in our state.”

George cited the enactment of major tax reform that eliminated most non-wage income on small businesses and lowered tax rates for individual Kansans as a major boost to the state’s efforts to expand the economy and add jobs.

“Kansas has gone from one of the highest taxed states in the region to one of the lowest,” George said. “The elimination of taxes on non-wage income is going to really help the 191,000 small businesses in Kansas grow. That’s what we need to get our economy growing.”

Brent Pollina, vice president of Pollina Corporate Real Estate and co-author of the ranking, said that Kansas has proved why it has a reputation for understanding the needs of business. In 2004, Kansas was ranked No. 23 in the survey.

“[Kansas’] consistent approach to creating a pro-business environment has paid off because the state has continuously adapted and changed to fit the needs of business, refusing to sit back and rely on past success,” Pollina said. Pollina also praised the state’s economic development tools as an asset in recruiting companies.

Since January 2011, there have been almost 21,000 jobs created, almost 4,000 jobs retained and $2.8 billion in capital investment in the state, according to Department data.

In addition to the recognition by Pollina, Area Development magazine recently gave a Silver Shovel Award to Kansas. The award recognizes state economic development agencies that drive significant job creation. Forbes’ also ranked Kansas 12th in the publication’s most recent “Best States for Business” report.